Trump's 'suspense' moment and 5 other highlights from the final debate

Donald Trump might just end up a winner, whether the American electorate likes it or not.

And he suggested he might not accept any outcome otherwise on Wednesday night during the last debate against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Of all the platitudes, policy statements and attack lines heard in the final debate last night at Las Vegas's University of Nevada that spoke loudest, it was the Republican nominee for president's refusal to say he would accept a losing result next month.

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The stunning moment came when Fox News moderator Chris Wallace asked about the traditional "peaceful transition of power" that takes place at the end of the campaign, in which "the loser concedes to the winner."

Would Trump, in the event of a loss, commit to that principle for the good of national unity?

"I will tell you at the time," Trump answered. "I'll keep you in suspense, OK?"

Clinton seized on the remark, calling it "horrifying."

On accepting the election outcome

'I will look at it at the time': Trump on whether he will accept election results

8 years ago

Duration 1:41

Donald Trump will determine if election was rigged after voting ends

Clinton blasts Trump on accepting results

8 years ago

Duration 1:17

Clinton says she thinks Trumps views are bad for democracyTrump's comment, while sure to stoke the most loyal of his party faithful, comes as he ramps up rhetoric about an election "rigged" in favour of Clinton and co-sponsored by globalelitesand the liberal media.

He has repeatedly warned about "large scale voter fraud," calling any Republicans who deny this claim "naive," and imploring his most loyal supporters to volunteer as "Trump Election Observers" to prevent cheating at the polls a phenomenon that very rarely exists, according to investigations into the myth of voter fraud.

(A 2014 investigation into voter fraud by the Washington Post found only 31 credible incidents out of one billion ballots cast, hardly enough to sway any elections one way or the other.)

• Trump refuses to guarantee he'll accept election outcome

Trump's refusal to say that he would accept the result of the election is sure to capture headlines and caps the end of a three-debate cycle that Clinton is widely believed to have swept. But much more was said during Wednesday's final debate.

Here are some other highlights from the last showdown with 19 days to go until election day:

On abortion and Roe V. Wade

Clinton on standing behind Roe v. Wade

8 years ago

Duration 1:15

linton she's strongly behind the pro-choice movement Sparring over the issue of late-termabortion, Clinton said Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark judgment legalizing abortion, clearly lays out regulations on abortion "so long as the life and health of the mother are taken into account." Clinton said the U.S. government should not intervene in such "heartbreaking" decisions as late-term abortions.

Trump responded that Clinton's position is that "you can take the baby and rip the baby out of the womb on the ninth month," language that Clinton said was "scare rhetoric" and not how such abortion procedures actually work.

On Russia andWikiLeaks

Trump, Clinton clash over Russia and WikiLeaks

8 years ago

Duration 0:36

Trump loses his cool for a moment as Clinton calls him a 'puppet' of Vladimir Putin'sClinton's assertion that Vladimir Putin's flattering words for Trump were because the Russian President "would rather have a puppet as president" briefly set off Trump, who until that moment had managed to maintain a more measured demeanour.

"You're the puppet! No, you're the puppet," Trump yelled.

TheWikiLeaksemailsstolen from the Democratic National Committee's servers and from the personalinboxof Clinton's campaign chairman are believed by experts to have been the handiwork of Russian hackers.

On 'the wall' and securing the border

Trump stands by his call for a wall

8 years ago

Duration 0:19

The Republican says no to amnesty and repeats his call for a wall

Clinton says she supports a path to citizenship

8 years ago

Duration 0:50

The Democrat defends her vision for border securityTrump repeated his call for strong borders, arguing that "drugs are pouring in" and citing support he has received from unions representing workers with the National Immigration and Customs Enforcement Council. He alleged that Clinton supports amnesty.

"We have some bad hombres here," Trump said.

Clinton supports a pathway to citizenship as part of a comprehensive immigration reform package she says she will introduce in her first 100 days in office.

On the Clinton Foundation and 'pay to play'

Clinton dodges 'pay to play'

8 years ago

Duration 3:11

Clinton dodges a question about the Clinton Foundation and accusations of conflict of interest while she was secretary of state There was some expert dodging by Clinton on the question of the Clinton Foundation and possible conflicts of interest involving "pay to play" in which donors to the charity reportedly sought meetings with Clinton while she was secretary of state.

Instead, Clinton used her time to extol the virtues of the "world-renowned charity," saying she was proud to discuss its achievements, including making HIV-AIDS treatment more affordablefor 11 million people.

Trump later jumped in, calling the Clinton Foundation a "criminal enterprise."

On why to vote Clinton or Trump

Closing statements

8 years ago

Duration 2:13

Clinton and Trump strike very different tones when asked to give a closing 1-minute pitch for why they deserve to be presidentWith a minute on the clock, Wallace asked Clinton and Trump to give their final sell to uncommitted voters about why each candidate should be the next president of the United States.

Clinton's impromptu closing statement involved an uplifting and broad appeal "to all Americans, Democrats, Republicans and independents, because we need everybody to help make our country what it should be."

Trump, by contrast, struck a darker tone, casting America as a country in crisis with a "depleted military," poor treatment of veterans, disastrous "inner cities" where bullets fly and "disrespected" law enforcement officials.

"We cannot take four more years ofBarackObama. And that's what you get when you get her," he said, pointing towards Clinton.Obama'sapproval ratings are the highest he's ever had so far in his second term, with 55 per cent of Americans saying they approve of his performance as president.

There are 18 days left until election day on Nov. 8.

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